Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2016 i 25 Beautiful Homes

This month’s issue is full of homes that have charm and character. Obviously every house is different and the owner’s personality can shine through from the way the whole scheme’s put together, or from the inclusion of some individual personal pieces. It’s those one-off items that I find most interesting. If I look around our home, we have a few pieces that have been passed down from our family, mixed in with things the children have made at school. But both our boys must have gone through a bit of a purple period, or one of the art teachers at the school loved the colour – I have a clay angel that seems to be predominantly covered in a purple glaze, and a linocut owl that is printed in purple…

WOODEN SIDE TABLES Recently I spotted some beautiful occasional tables in a Housetohome advert in the magazine ( p146 , April 2016). Do you happen to know where I can buy them? JOANNA ARCHIBALD, BY EMAIL The perfect companions to an armchair or sofa, these elegant tables are the Puck design, pictured, by Simen Aarseth for Benchmark (01488 608020, benchmarkfurniture.com). They come in two sizes, H46 x D31cm or H55 x D37cm and you can choose from oak or walnut, or a painted finish, from £200. Another Country (020 7486 3251, anothercountry.com) has a more rustic design called the Side Table One in natural oak, H50 x D40cm, £290. For a shorter version, have a look at the timeless Originals nest of three tables by Ercol (01844 271800, ercol.com), available…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian townhouse LOCATION West London ROOMS Sitting room, kitchen-diner, TV room, cloakroom, utility room, office, three bedrooms, (one en suite) bathroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a house in nearby Chiswick,’ says Fleur. A print of Slim Aarons’ iconic photograph Poolside Gossip hangs over the fireplace in Fleur Ward’s sitting room. ‘I love that picture,’ she says. ‘I like to imagine, if I’d lived in Palm Springs in the 1970s, that would be me – cocktail in hand.’ Fleur grew up not in Palm Springs, but drenched in the similarly dazzling light of Brisbane, Australia. However, she left the suburban poolsides and lifestyle of the Gold Coast for London while in her twenties – and has lived there ever since. The London…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Green sandstone cottage, circa 1820 LOCATION Somerset ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, office, cloakroom, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 1997 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before here, we lived in a cottage in a pretty Surrey village,’ says Jane. The home of Jane Edmonds and Peter Howard is all about nature’s bounty. Their sandstone cottage in Somerset, with its exposed timbers and stone floors, boasts freshly cut flowers in pots, jugs and jars, and drying foliage hanging from rafters. The decor has natural hues, too. ‘I love muted colours,’ says Jane. ‘They work so well in an old house, bringing out the best of the original features and all the vintage treasures I’ve acquired over the years.’ Indeed, Jane has an enviable collection of mementos. These include the pretty…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY First-floor flat in an Edwardian terrace LOCATION West Sussex ROOMS Kitchen-diner/sitting room, bedroom, bathroom PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I moved here from my parents’ Georgian home in nearby Arundel,’ says Renny. Two years ago, Renny Poore decided it was time he flew the family nest in a pretty market town in West Sussex, to find his own place. ‘My parents have a fantastic Georgian home once owned by the painter John Constable,’ says Renny. ‘I couldn’t afford anything like that, but I loved the stunning decor and design they had used and hoped to emulate that in my own place, on a smaller scale.’ On Renny’s wish list was a property by the coast, with sea views and lots of character. It was hard to…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY End-of-terrace, built in the 1950s LOCATION Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex ROOMS Hall, sitting room/ kitchen-diner, family room, utility room, three bedrooms (one en suite), two bathrooms PURCHASED 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before moving here, we lived in a 1930s semi in Brighton,’ says Amy. Last year when Amy and Sylvain Baudet were seeking more space and a property to put their stamp on, they fell in love with a 1950s end-of-terrace in West Sussex. ‘This was the only house we could afford to buy and completely renovate,’ says Amy. ‘It was a big step, as our daughter Léonie was just three and our son Cassius a newborn, but we knew we could really make it our own.’ The house had a garage and large utility room on…

Design ideas OPEN STAIRS The stairs are the architectural backbone of a house – they are often the first thing you see when you walk through the front door. In Alex Crabtree’s London home, the stairs are very much at the centre of the scheme. To open up the space as much as possible, Alex decided to live without banisters. The fact that the stairs do not have a handrail further adds to the feel of airiness. To create space, special care has also been taken not to overfill the interior with too much furniture or clutter. Harmonious neutral tones accentuate the feeling of spaciousness. Another idea to help you achieve a more uncluttered feeling with a staircase is to fit open treads on the stairs. HIGH SHELF A truly…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian workman’s cottage LOCATION Twickenham ROOMS Hall, sitting/dining room, kitchen, study, bedroom, bathroom PURCHASED 1992 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I moved here from a terraced house nearby,’ says Alex. With many years’ experience working in public relations for interiors, it’s no surprise that Alex Crabtree mixed business with pleasure when styling her own home. ‘I was head of marketing at Crabtree Kitchens in the 1990s and that’s when my interest in interiors took off,’ she says. ‘It’s fascinating seeing inside people’s homes.’ The characterful Victorian cottage Alex bought in 1992 has been given even more personality with pieces she’s accumulated over the years and in the carefully curated way she blends colours and textures with her beloved art. ‘When I first viewed the house it looked very…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A 1960s detached house LOCATION West Sussex ROOMS Dining room, sitting room/kitchen-diner, snug, study, utility room, cloakroom, sunroom, four bedrooms, two bathrooms PURCHASED 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I used to live in a 1930s house in nearby Hove,’ says Martine. After 15 years of living in a busy West Sussex town, Martine Self wanted a place where she could escape the hustle and bustle, and just enjoy the sea breeze and views. Searching for a property closer to the coastline, she found a large four-bedroom home right on a pebble beach, which is also a nature reserve. Although its location was perfect, the house itself was in need of serious care. ‘When I viewed the house it was very neglected with a honey-coloured brick front that…

A Abigail Ahern abigailahern.com Aga 0845 712 5207, agaliving.com Alexander & Pearl 020 8508 0411, alexanderandpearl.co.uk Alfies Antique Market 020 7723 6066, alfiesantiques.com Amara 0800 587 7645, amara.com Ambientedirect.com 0870 005 2275 Andy Thornton 01422 376000, andythornton.com Anthony Burrill anthonyburrill.com Antiqued Mirror 01761 568241, antiquedmirror.com Aper arper.com Ardingly Antiques iacf.co.uk Argos 0345 640 3030, argos.co.uk Arlo & Jacob 0333 122 5382, arloandjacob.com Artisans of Devizes 01380 720007, artisansofdevizes.com Art Rookie 020 8504 1030, artrookie.co.uk Atomic Interiors 0115 965 7920, atomicinteriors.co.uk B B&Q 0333 014 3098, diy.com B&T Antiques 020 7229 7001, bntantiques.co.uk Barker & Stonehouse 0370 218 4468, barkerandstonehouse.co.uk Bathstore bathstore.com Bedeck bedeckhome.com Bella Figura 020 7349 1320, bella-figura.com Bells 020 8693 2223, bellsbathkit.co.uk Bensen at Viaduct 020 7278 8456, viaduct.co.uk Bert &…

1 BIRD EGGS Flamingo egg cup, £20, Hannah Turner Ceramics 2 LEAF TEASE Banana Leaf framed art print by Gul-E-Yasman Raja, from £42, Art Rookie 3 SAMBA SETTING La Selva Palma dinner plate, £8, John Lewis 4 SWAYING PALMS Palmetto lamp, £125 without shade, Oka 5 SHIMMERING REEF Coral metal bowl, £25, Marks & Spencer 6 SETTLE INTO SUMMER Woven stool, £26, Sainsbury’s 7 HANG LOOSE Indoor/outdoor suspended egg chair, £350, Cox & Cox 8 CARNIVAL OF COLOUR Scion Anneke pom pom throw in honey, £95, Bedeck 9 JUNGLE SNACK Amazon two-person wicker and cotton picnic hamper, £70, Linea at House of Fraser…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Three-storey maisonette in a townhouse built in 1901 LOCATION Amsterdam ROOMS Sitting room/kitchen-diner, study, playroom/guest room, cloakroom, three bedrooms, bathroom PURCHASED 2012 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, we had a two-bed flat in New York,’ says Marja. What would be at the top of your property wish list? A garden? A spare bedroom? Marja van Ravenstein and her partner Thibaut Pugin, had something a little more eccentric in mind. ‘Before we moved to Amsterdam, we’d spent a few years living in a small flat in Manhattan,’ says Marja. ‘We’d always dreamt of having a sitting area that was big enough to have a swing in it, so that’s what we set out to find.’ Swings apart, the pair’s requirements also included bedrooms for their four children,…

Tired carpet, outdated lino, or modern boards can often be hiding treasure in the shape of the original stone floors, period tiles and boards that make up the rich heritage of your house. Here’s how to restore them to their former glory. What lies beneath If you’re planning to restore an existing stone, tiled, marble or wooden floor, there are certain key problems you’re likely to encounter. Aside from the fact that not every original floor has received the care it deserves, they can be damp, uneven or simply cold to live with. Happily, there are remedies at hand for all these problems. One of the most common issues that affects old stone and tiled floors in particular is rising damp. Many old flagstone or quarry tiled floors were laid…

DISTINCTIVE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian semi-detached LOCATION Northwest London ROOMS Hall, sitting room/ kitchen, dining room/study, cloakroom, playroom, five bedrooms (one en suite), dressing room, three bathrooms PURCHASED 2014 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a townhouse in nearby Notting Hill,’ says Alex. Alex and Mishari Al-Bader’s house is steeped in colours that evoke the feeling of summers in their favourite places. ‘We both have a passion for colour and love city life,’ says Alex, who is originally from Barcelona and came to the UK while in her twenties after accidentally landing a career in modelling. ‘As soon as I got here, I knew this was the place for me,’ she says. However, the colours that Alex grew up with lingered in her mind when it came to decorating the…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Terraced house, built in the 1840s LOCATION North London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, study, utility room, three bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2013 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this, we lived in a flat in central London and had a cottage in Leicestershire,’ says Nick. While a flat in the heart of London and a weekend cottage in the countryside might seem an idyllic set-up, it simply didn’t work for Nick Todd and his partner Doug Close. ‘Living a split life ended up being too complicated,’ says Nick. So the pair sold the cottage, let the flat and bought the first and only house they viewed. ‘The configuration was perfect,’ says Doug of the wide terrace in north London with its generous living space across…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian semi-detached LOCATION Southeast London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, loft studio PURCHASED 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We used to live in a terrace in west London,’ says Vicki. There are often a few false starts involved in finding the right property, as Vicki and Jonathan Smith know only too well. Moving from west London to the southeast of the city when Jonathan’s job as a church worship director called for a change of parish, the couple searched high and low for a period home suitable for a growing family. ‘We put in an offer for one that ticked all our boxes, but were unsuccessful,’ says Vicki. ‘When it came back on the market we viewed it once more, but decided it…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Edwardian garden flat LOCATION North London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, utility room, three bedrooms (one en suite), family bathroom PURCHASED 1998 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I moved from a rented flat nearby,’ says Harriet. Harriet Dell celebrated 17 years in her north London garden flat in a quite unusual way – by carrying out a major renovation project. She originally chose the apartment for its generous room sizes and garden, and a few immediate changes were necessary, which included rewiring, plastering and decorating, plus tweaking the layout to gain a bigger kitchen and dining space. ‘I bought it from an elderly lady and the place hadn’t been touched since the 1960s,’ explains Harriet. As her family grew, Harriet realised that the layout was no longer working…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Terraced house, built in 1840 LOCATION West London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen-breakfast area, snug, study, conservatory, three bedrooms, three bathrooms PURCHASED 1998 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘Before this place, we lived in an apartment,’ says Sophie. When you meet Sophie Ryninks you cannot fail to be swept away by her enthusiasm for a clean, blank canvas. It’s the key to the success of the ordered and restful interior of the west London home she shares with her husband Robert. ‘I’m a passionate minimalist,’ says Sophie, ‘and “keep it plain” is one of my favourite expressions.’ Modern finish When the couple bought their home, their first task was to rejig the basement. ‘Like the rest of the house, it was looking tired,’ recalls Sophie. ‘Some…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached house, built circa 1860 LOCATION North London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner/family room, TV room, games room, cloakroom, gym, seven bedrooms (all en suite) PURCHASED 2006 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We lived in a Victorian house in the New York suburbs,’ says Sarah. Sarah and Michael White experienced a complete change of lifestyle when they moved from New York to London for Michael’s job in banking. At first the couple wasn’t sure how long they would be living this side of the pond, but after two years they and their sons, Bradley, now 24, Matthew, 20, and Mason, 17, became attached to life in the UK. Tired of renting, they began the search for a permanent base. ‘We were used to living with space and big…

1 SUMPTUOUS STYLE Grace ceramic vase, £65, Next 2 FINE ROMANCE La Fleur Blanche wall art, £85, Dowsing & Reynolds 3 CHATEAU CHIC Provence wardrobe, £1,195, The White Company 4 GILDED FRAME Foliage oval mirror, £2,315, Christopher Guy 5 FRENCH FANCY Versailles clock, £45, Within Home 6 OPULENT UPHOLSTERY Peacock cushion, £50, Laura Ashley 7 SWANKY SEATING Winslow chair, £729, Shabby Chic collection at House of Fraser 8 DAZZLING DESIGN Chandelier table lamp, £105, Julien MacDonald at QVC 9 GOLDEN AGE Brass keys, £49, Barker & Stonehouse 10 DAINTY DETAILS Safavieh Palmetto footstool in taupe and beige, £131, Wayfair…

REPLANNED HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Victorian terrace LOCATION Northwest London ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, utility room, cloakroom, four bedrooms (one en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2015 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We moved here from a two-bedroom mansion block flat in west London,’ says Holly. The clean lines, pale shades and punchy patterns that punctuate Holly and Hugh Canham’s home existed in Holly’s mind long before they were brought to life in their family property. When the couple found this Victorian terrace in northwest London’s it had ‘project’ written all over it. ‘It was a probate sale that needed a complete refurbishment,’ explains Holly. ‘There were crumbling plaster walls that, once we started to strip back, we found were stuffed with old scrunched-up 1960s newspapers. But it had all the makings of a…

INSPIRING HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY A series of converted 20th-century barns LOCATION Berkshire ROOMS Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, family room, seven bedrooms (en suite) PURCHASED 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘I had a home in Somerset before buying this property,’ says Hosh. Exposed beams, an Aga, ethnic prints and colourful woven baskets might not seem like the most cohesive of design schemes, but thenHosh Ibrahim’s Berkshire property is far from your typical rural bolthole. Part of a cluster of converted barns by the banks of the River Thames, near Henley, the single-storey property is an intriguing mix of English country cottage-style and tribal influences. Based in London, Hosh frequently travels to Africa on business, and drew on safari camps he had seen there for interiors inspiration. ‘The barns were made of…

UNIQUE HOME TRUTHS THE PROPERTY Detached red-brick house, built in the 1970s LOCATION Wiltshire ROOMS Hall, sitting room, kitchen-diner, TV room, studio, utility, cloakroom, four bedrooms (two en suite), bathroom PURCHASED 2011 PREVIOUS PROPERTY ‘We’d just renovated a place in London before moving,’ says Lucy. A pretty Wiltshire village that dates back to Saxon times is the last place you might expect to come across a modern property. But Lucy and Michael Crockett’s contemporary home is an exception that is completely at ease in its rural setting. ‘It’s a 1970s red-brick building that had been added to many times,’ says Lucy. ‘When I walked through the door, my first thought was how badly designed the layout was. You had to go through the sitting area to get to the other…

Elegant, soft and warm underfoot, carpets are enjoying something of a comeback, with patterns and prints leading the way. Offering everything from classic plaids and florals to modern spots and striking stripes, there’s no better place to find your perfect fit than at Brintons. ‘Carpet is ideal for creating a cosy living space,’ says Natalie Littlehales, consumer marketing manager at Brintons. ‘The texture of wool coupled with a warm colour or welcoming pattern makes it a great way to build a comfortable and inviting decor scheme.’ With a history spanning more than 230 years, Brintons has a great heritage, offering superior, wool-rich carpets in an impressive range of designs to suit all homes. ‘Not only is wool on trend, it’s a fantastic sustainable choice,’ continues Natalie. ‘It insulates your home,…

Lavender makes an excellent low hedge or edging plant and thrives in sunny borders or containers. The nectar-rich blooms are very attractive to bees and the fragrant stems are ideal for cutting or drying. COLLECTION CONTAINS Munstead Lavender Height: 45cm/ Spread: 60cm Hidcote Lavender Height: 60cm/Spread: 30cm Buy 24 (12 of each) for £7.99 (RRP £19.98). Buy 48 (24 of each) for £9.99 (RRP £39.96). Buy 72 (36 of each) for £14.99 (RRP £59.94). HOW TO ORDER BY POST Name, address, email address, order code and 25BH6 on the back of the cheque made payable to 25 Beautiful Homes Offers, and send to Dept 25BH6, PO Box 162, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3BX (include £1.95 P&P) ONLINE Visit www.thompson-morgan.com/  25BH6 BY PHONE Call 0844 573 1686, quote 25BH6 TERMS…